Flora of Southwest Virginia
Phylum Sphenophyta

The Sphenophyta is a spore-bearing group of vascular plants with both living and extinct (fossil) members found in southwest Virginia. Although this group was abundant and diverse in the late Paleozoic Era, the genus Equisetum is the only surviving genus in this group. The most conspicuous morphological feature of this group is the jointed appearance of the stems and arrangement of appendages in whorls. Another commonly used name for this group is the Arthrophyta meaning, "jointed plants".

Click on one of the species names below to view image
Family Equisetaceae

*extinct forms
Family Calamitaceae
NOTE: The three genera below could  be different structures from the same plant.
Click to view areconstruction of one of these  plants. Family Sphenophyllaceae back to southwest Virginia flora